A comparative study on iron deficiency anemia based
on feeding patterns of nine-month-old infants |
Hyun Jin Yun, Eun Jeong Choi, Eun Jin Choi, Su Young Hong |
Department of Pediatrics, Il Sin Christian Hospital, Busan, Korea |
9개월 영아의 수유방법에 따른 철결핍빈혈에 대한 연구 |
윤현진, 최은정, 최은진, 홍수영 |
일신기독병원 소아청소년과 |
Correspondence:
Su Young Hong, Email: prifen@hanmail.net |
|
|
Abstract |
Purpose : This study was conducted to evaluate the red cell indices and frequency of iron deficiency anemia based on the feeding patterns of nine-month-old infants.
Methods : Blood tests were performed on 253 nine-month-old infants, who visited Il Sin Christian Hospital for health check- ups from January to December 2007. Their parents answered telephonic questions regarding their feeding patterns and weaning foods.
Results : Three infants groups were created according to feeding patterns before they started weaning foods. One group was exclusively breast-fed (48.6%), another had mixed feeding (27.3%), and the third had artificial milk feeding (24.1%). Red cell indices (hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH) of the breast-fed group were comparatively lower than those of the other two groups (P<0.05). Twenty-five infants (9.9%) were diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia. According to feeding patterns, the frequency of anemia was highest in the breast-fed group. Six infants who started weaning foods before six months of age (113 infants) were diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia (5.3%), and nineteen who started after six months of age (140 infants) were diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia (13.6%).
Conclusion : When nine-month old infants visit hospitals for health check-ups, pediatricians must consider their feeding pattern and weaning foods histories, and then recommend screening blood tests for iron-deficiency anemia. |
Key Words:
Iron deficiency, Anemia, Infants, Feeding pattern |
|